Independently Owned and Operated: Owner’s Corner

8/7/2021 (Permalink)

We came home with ideas buzzing through our heads to make Team Wall the best it can be.

“Independently Owned and Operated”. We have all seen this tagline a million times, but I’d bet most probably don’t fully recognize what it means.

Independently owned and operated businesses are franchised businesses owned and operated by individuals, but with the guidance, support, and architecture for growth designed by its founders, corporate team, or central board.

Just having a predetermined plan to follow does not translate to instant success, however. It certainly takes owners with an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong team with hustle in their DNA, and loyal customers to move the needle.

SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team – Team Wall began as a one license franchise in May 2009 – a husband and wife team trying something new amid a recession that rocked our country. We became small business owners for the first time with the amazing blessing of youth and ignorance on our side – never thinking of the possibility of failure or the “What If?” consequences. We followed the path set out by those SERVPRO franchisees who came before us. It was awesome. But, awesomely hard work as well.

Fast forward, Team Wall now operates 12 franchise licenses throughout 3 metro markets. The architecture designed for us as we started our journey in 2009 was invaluable, but now as we enter a world of unknown – becoming “Multi-Market Operators” – we find ourselves carving our own path in an unraveling (and exciting) time for SERVPRO franchise owners.

Multi-Market Operations by individual franchise owners is not a new concept. Being a part of navigating this concept in the service sector with SERVPRO Industries and about 20 fellow franchisees has been an honor for Team Wall.

Team Wall started down the Multi-Market Operator path in 4th Quarter 2019. In walked the warmest winter on record in 100 years and then a global pandemic. Whew. Not a time we’d like to repeat, but let me tell you, it made us appreciate the week of July 20th, 2021 more than you could ever know. It was SERVPRO’s 52nd Annual Convention and the first time we were able to see our SERVPRO family in person in well over 2 years.

The fellowship, guidance, and inspiration we receive from these events is second to none. We learned about technology, integration, automation, new marketing strategies, industry best practices, key accounts and new relationships, and better ways to serve our customers. We networked with our peers talking through our triumphs, challenges, and lessons learned. After all, Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

The enthusiasm during convention week is contagious. We came home with ideas buzzing through our heads to make Team Wall the best it can be and to rock this opportunity we have been so blessed to pursue... the Multi-Market Operator.

We will always and forever be humbled by the opportunities our customers have given us through the years. And for the continued enthusiasm and dedication by our team members. Without these two factors, none of it would be possible.

With sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude,

Jim and Trish Wall